Okinawan Funakoshi Unsu Kata

Master Seishō Aragaki (Niigaki) taught Gichin Funakoshi the quan / kata unsu, along with nisēshi (and likely sōchin, but it was replaced with Kudaka sōchin). Meaning "cloud-hands", it is a fitting analogy for what presents as the dragon style, with flowing movements and clever double techniques.

I relate the dragon style to the Komodo dragon, realistically. Not just due to the name and its physical stature, but when considering the dragon-style's technical teachings that apply hard and soft, great power, the use of claws, and intelligence. In terms of essence, the mind (shin in Japanese, shen in Mandarin Chinese) is the focal element of development towards correct performance and application in this boxing method. 

Although always ongoing, this essentially completes the primary presentation of my research on Master Gichin Funakoshi's Okinawan karate, as the kata are most important. However, next I will show the second and third taikyoku kata, other relevant kobujutsu, and the kumite section. 

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Okinawan Funakoshi Sochin Kata

An illustration of what the old Okinawan version of Funakoshi-Kudaka sōchin-gata may have looked like, including chōji-dachi / teiji-dachi rather than fudō-dachi / sōchin-dachi, as Master Funakoshi described, and as seen in other Okinawan karate schools, and showing two variations for the end of the kata. Kudaka sōchin appears to also be of the dragon style, flowing with double techniques, like Aragaki nisēshi and unsu (and sōchin). 

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Okinawan Funakoshi Niseshi Kata

Okinawan-style nisēshi kata of Master Gichin Funakoshi's karate lineage, taught to him by Master Aragaki (Niigaki). Niseishi is of the dragon style which teaches flowing movements and clever double techniques. This particular kata can be applied to the sai. 

I have illustrated two versions here, one in standard Okinawan style, the other showing a contrast between hard and soft techniques.

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Old Okinawan Funakoshi Jitte : First Technique Slow and Circular ; First Technique Sharp and Circular - Kote-uke / Osae-uke

According to Master Funakoshi's descriptions, and compared with other experts such as some of his students, including Master Otsuka and Sensei Ohshima, and pupils of Master Egami's Shotokai karate, it may be more correct in Funakoshi karate, when performed comparably with Master Gichin Funakoshi's own practice, to execute the first technique, for instance, of the kata jitte, circling down slowly in kote-uke / osae-uke. However, techniques are often performed in a sharp manner in Okinawan kata, and some comparisons show this for jitte, such as Master Yuchoku Higa's version which may suggest that the way to perform the first movement is more like the alternative I have previously illustrated several times. Additionally, some of Master Funakoshi's older versions of kata, such as jion (and therefore likely ji'in) had different initial movements to those Master Funakoshi himself later published. Hence, it is possible that other kata had slightly varied movements in their older versions. However, in this case, the descriptions do point towards quite possibly actually always having been a kote-uke / osae-uke technique. 

Mr Lorenzo Semeraro, a member of my karate study group, regularly discusses ideas with me, concerning Funakoshi karate in its original form. He brought this point into reconsideration, and I am grateful for his contributions.

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